Shell-digger.



No. 786,663. PATENTED APR. 4, 1905. W.' MGOOY.

SHELL BIGGER.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 25, 1904.

' INVENTOH ifiZZz'anz J[ C0 w; MM

ATTORNEYS Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT OFF-ICE.

WILLIAh l MOCOYQOF NEW HARMONY, INDIANA.

SHELL-BIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,663, dated April 4, 1905.

Application filed June 25, 1904. Serial No. 214,158.

To tZL whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM MCCOY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Harmony, in the county of Posey and State oflndiana, have invented a new and Improved Shell-Digger, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to diggers or grappling-tongs used for grasping and raising shell-fish from the bottoms of bodies of water, and has for its object to provide novel details of construction for a shell-digger that adapt the implement for very effective service and enable its convenient use for the grasping and raising of shell-fi h of all kinds, and particularly clams or mussels that may contain pearls.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference inclicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved digger, showing parts in closed adjustment. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same in opened adjustment. Fig. 3 is an enlarged partly-sectional side view of the working parts of the implement, taken substantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 5. Fig. 4C is an enlarged partly-sectional side view of an upper portion of the handle-barand details of the implement mounted thereon. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on the line 6 6 in Fig. 4E.

A handle-bar 6 is provided for the support of other working parts of the implement in proper relative positions and is afforded a suitable length, which may be proportioned to the depth of water the digger is to be operated in. The handle-bar may be formed of wood or metal in tubular form. As shown wood is the material indicated. For convenience in manufacture the handle-bar 6 is made in two similar sections that are joined together lengthwise, they having fiat sides that are made to contact with each other, and are secured together by screws or other means.

The handle-bar is axially bored in two diameters, the smaller-diamctered bore a extending from a point near the upper extremity of the handle to a point a at a suitable distance from the normally lower end, this lower portion of the bore being concentrically enlarged, as indicated at (0 in Figs. 3 and In the enlarged portion (1, of the axial bore a tubular slide-rod 7 is inserted and fits loosely, the lower end of the slide-rod carrying an open yoke-plate 8, that is in the form of an inverted U, which is perforated in its head wall for the reception of a headed screw-bolt b, that is passed through said perforation and screws into the threaded bore of the hollow slide-rod, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The exterior of the handle-bar 6 from its lower end for a suitable distance is rendered rectangular and thence to the upper end is rounded into cylindrical shape to adapt it for convenient handling. Upon the lower portion of the handle-bar 6 two neatly-fitting bands 0 c are mounted and secured, the lower band 0 embracing the lower end portion of the handle-bar and the other band, 0, encircling the rectangular periphery of said bar at a proper distance from the lower one. As shown, the bands 0 c are connected together with two metal straps d, that are secured by their end portions upon opposite sides of the bands, and upon one of the straps (Z the upper end of a plate-metal latch-hook e is secured.

The latch-hook c is resilient in the body and depends from the strap it is mounted upon, having a hook member 6 on its lower end that is adapted to havealatched engagement with the transverse head wall of the yoke-plate 8 if the slide-rod 7 has been lowered and then moved upward, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Upon the remaining opposite sides of the lower band 0 two similar journaled studs g are respectively mounted and project outward axially coincident with each other. Two

similar link-bars 9 9, formed of fiat metal strips, are perforated oppositely near each end of the same, and after lapping corresponding ends of the link-bars together said ends are mounted upon a journal-stud g, these having lapped contact where they engage with the stud. To avoid frictional contact with the sides of the band a, a washer ii is mounted upon each journal-stud before the link-bars 9 9 are placed thereon.

Two hanger-l ars :11 are respectively secured by one end oi each upon the sides of the upper band c that are directh. above the journalstuds and in the lower end portions of the depending hanger-bars opposite perform tions are formed tl at receive the projecting ends of the journal-struls.

A. washer v" is mounted upon each journalstud 7 before the ln-mger-ba.rs i are placed upon them, and upon the threaded ends oithe studs outside of the ln:-.nger-bars nuts are screw-2c, whereby the link-bars 9 9 are held. free to rock in parallel rertical planes at 0pposite sides of the rccta ular hand 0.

Two similar slotted sco )S 10 of suitable dimensions, each having a number of spaced tines m formed on an arched bead-bin 21/, are securcrh reapectiri-dy, upon one end of bell iranloshapcd arm :1, the nien'iberol said arm tl us attached bei unsecured upon the head-bar. at the center of the latter, so as to project therefrom at a proper angle with regard to the general trend of the tines m. It will be seen in F l and 2 that the tines men each scoop are dished or rendered concave on the sides that are nearest to those on the other scoop, thus ing each. one the form of a scoop-sher irongh which \ll'thfi. and sand u 5' pass freely.

lhc arms U... which are each hent at a right angle, are respectively, pivoted by a bolt it between the outer ends of a pair of the linkhars El 9, each arn; at itsa e being transversely perforated, so that when said angles are ph -tied betu n respective pairs of linkbars and the perrcrations in tl' lRL'KS and an inserted arm are alined the pivot-wolts '21 may be passed tlicrethrough and secured in place by nuts or other means.

'lihe reniainiin, members of the bent arms 11 are extended toward the yoke-plate 8 and have lapped eng enient with each other within said yoheate. the sides of the yoke and the flattened ends of the arms being pivoted together, as shown at 0 in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Near their upper ends the two sections of the handle-bar 6 are hingitudiually recessed, so as to proi'luce a slot 7) iillCl'QtlilOis h, and a longitudinally-slotted wear-plate 6" secured in the hottoni of each recess, as is shown for one section in l ig. 4'-

A let r formed of two fiat bars 6", that are spaced apart in parallel planes by the introduction between them of a washer-r and rivet r at their outer ends and a braclmt-arin .s at their opposite ends, is held to rock on said arm by a pivot s, that passes through alined perforations in the ever members c" and the brachetarin, the latter being secured upon the handle-bar, between the sections thereof and above the wear-plates, so to project recess outward, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2. and 1. A link-oar 6 is pivoted by one old between the lever memhers 6 at a suitable distance from the pivot s and thence inclines to ward and into the slot 1).

A. short pin 2, is fixed transversely in the linlehar 6" near the end which is inserted in the slot p, said pin, which projects equally at each side oi the link-bar, affording two trunnions that have a slidahle engagement within slots that are formed in the wear-plates 6*, as shown in Fig. 6.

Upon the trunnion-pin 2 one end of a connecting-rod 12 is loosely coupled and extends down in the hollow handle-bar 6 and at its lower end is secured upon the upper end of an elongated coupling-bar 13, adapted to slide freely in the hollow slide-rod 7. The coupling-bar 13 is slotted For a portion of its length, and in said slot 11 a cross pin 'v is loosely held by a secured engagement of the ends of the pin with the wall oi? the slide-rod T at opposite points. s

The weight of the scoops l0 and the parts immediately connected therewith is such that the lower edges of the scoops will hang adjacent to each other when free to do so, the crosspin '0 nearly having contact with the lower end of the slot in in the coupling-bar 13, as shown in Fig.

The relative proportion of the described parts is such that when the lever (5" is roched downward a sullicient distance the cross-pin o will approach the upper end wall of the slot in due to a downward sliding movement of the connecting-rod 12 and the couplingbar 1.3. This downward movement will project the slide-rod 7 down below the lower end ol' the handle-bar 6, which will rock the scoops 10 away from each other.

In use the handlebar is grasped and the scoops 10 are permitted to diverge sufiiciently by depression of the lever men'ibcrs 6 to allow a free insertion of the scoops 10 into the soft bottom of a. water-bed where shell-fish are to be found, and it may be here explained that the construction of the scoops and the arrange ment of their supports are together dapted to cause the scoops to enter the sand or soil with a shoveling action when they are pressed downward. After the scoops are properly embedded in the bottom of the watercourse toe lever members 6" are rocked u pward which will draw the slide-rod 7 upwardly and close the scoops 10, this closing movement being enforced by the contact of the lower end wall of the slot n upon the cross-pin z.',wl1ioh adapts the coupling-bar to serve as an extension of the hollow slide-rod 7, whereupon the pull i re latter rocks the angular arms 11 into the ition shown in Fig. 1 and closes the scoops. it will be seen that the upward sliding eng ment of the hollow rod 7 correspond gly elevates the yoke-plate 8, which is thus caused to press upon the latching-nosed of the latch- TOC them to rock outward for removal of their contents by gravity.

When it is desired to fully diverge the lower edges oi the scoops 10, as shown in Fig. 2,

j the lever members 6" are rocked downward so as to nearly contact with the link-bar 6, which Will correspondingly rock the latter 5 downward and press the top wall of the slot u in the coupling-bar 13 upon the cross-pin n,

1 thus depressing the slide-rod 7 and rocking the angular arms 11, together with the linkbars 9 9 and scoops 10, into the relative positions shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that the release of the bands 0 c from the lower portion of the handle-bar 6 permits the complete removal of the scoops 10 and their connections with said bands from the handle-bar in case repairs of any part is necessary.

The provision of the hanger-bars 2', link-bars 9 9, angular arms 11, and bands 0'0 as combined with the handle-bar 6 and scoops 10 are novel and advantageous details of the improvement, as they afiord when assembled a light, strong, and reliable means for rockably supporting the scoops upon the handlebar. The cooperative action of the lever 6 link-bar 6 connecting-rod 12, coupling-bar 13, and hollow slide-rod 7, together with the yoke-plate 8, whereon the angular arms 11 and scoops 10 are connected, afford a very compact, simple, pensive, and practical as well as convenient means for rocking the .scoops to open or close them, these as arranged, together with the latch-hook a, comprising novel features of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with a hollow handlebar, a slide-rod reciprocal in the handle-bar,

a lever held to rock on the upper portion of the handle-bar, and a pair of'scoops hung from the lower end of the handle-bar and adapted to swing toward and from each other,

with the slide-rod for its reciprocation, of link-bars pivoted by one end on the lower portion of the handle-bar, angularly-bent arms pivoted at their angles on the other ends of the link-bars, scoops carried by the angular arms at the respective ends of said arms, and means for loosely connecting the other ends of the angular arms with the slide-rod.

The combination with a hollow handlebar, a slide-rod reciprocal in the handle-bar, a lever pivoted upon the handle-bar, and a link connecting the lever with the slide-rod through a slot in the handle-bar, of an inverted-U-shaped yoke on the lower end of the slide-rod, link-bars held to rock by one end thereof upon the lower portion of the handlebar, angularly-bent arms pivoted at their angles upon other ends of the link-bars, and scoops pendent from the lower ends of the bent arms, the opposite ends of which are lapped together and pivoted upon the yoke between its depending members.

The combination with a hollow handlebar, having a longitudinal slot therein near its upper end, a lever pivoted by one end on the handle-bar, a link-bar pivoted by one end on the lever and extending into the slot, a connecting-rod coupled with the inserted end of the link-bar and extending down in the handle-bar, a slotted coupling-bar, a hollow slide-rod loose in the handle-bar and wherein the gravity-bar works, a cross-pin fast in the hollow slide-rod and passing loosely through the slot in the coupling-bar, and a yoke on the lower end of the slide-rod, of link-bars pivoted by one end on a band mounted upon the lower end of the handle-bar, angular-bent arms pivoted at their angles upon the other ends of the link-bars, and scoops hung from the depending ends of the angular arms, the other ends of said arms being lapped together and pivoted upon the yoke.

5. The combination with a hollow handlebar, a slide-rod reciprocal in the handle-bar, and means for reciprocating the slide-rod, of link-bars, a band at the lower end of the handle-bar whereon the ends of the link-bars are pivoted, two angularly-bent arms pivoted at their angles upon depending ends of thelinkbars, scoops carried at the lower ends of the bent arms, a yoke on the lower end of the slide-rod, the remaining ends of the bent arms being pivoted upon said. yoke, and a latchhook pendent from the handle-bar, the lower end of said latch-hook when engaged with the yoke holding the slide-rod elevated and the scoops rocked toward each other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

iVlLLl A M M oUO Y. Witnesses:

C. L. PELHAM, SILAS S. Mrnns. 

